Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2019 - Summer

Team Members: Alina Yurova, Allison Day, Ariela Levy, Michael Bannon, Timothy Woodruff, Olatunde Olatunji, Owen Flood, Zhiyao Wang

Wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar global industry that threatens biodiversity, weakens ecosystems, and contributes to zoonotic disease transmission and organized crime. The Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act seeks to strengthen enforcement, improve interagency coordination, and increase funding for international conservation efforts. The analysis highlights how illegal wildlife trade contributes to species extinction, ecosystem degradation, and public health risks, while undermining economic stability in vulnerable regions. Weak enforcement capacity, insufficient funding, and inconsistent international cooperation have limited the effectiveness of existing anti-trafficking policies.

The research concludes that increased funding, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and improved international collaboration could significantly reduce wildlife trafficking and protect biodiversity. The bill’s emphasis on capacity building and conservation partnerships is particularly important for addressing the root causes of trafficking. However, challenges remain, including political resistance, enforcement limitations, and competing economic interests. Ultimately, the legislation represents an important step toward protecting biodiversity, strengthening global conservation efforts, and reducing the ecological and public health risks associated with illegal wildlife trade.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.